Door construction for washer-extractor drum

ABSTRACT

A door construction for a rotatable drum of a washer-extractor type machine, where the door is hinged to the circumferential drum wall and is aligned when closed with the drum wall, a full width locking blade is carried on the door and is adapted to be moved to underlie the drum wall to hold the door closed, and a camming handle is carried on the door for moving the locking blade.

United States Patent Funk [4 .1 July 25, 1972 1541 DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WASHER- [561 References Cited E T UM XTRAC OR DR UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Invent Sunk Funk Ohm 3,311,241 3/1967 Files ..68/l43 x [73] Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company, Elgin, lll.

' Primary ExaminerWilliam l. Price [22] Filed: June 10, 1971 Attorney-Charles F. Lind [21] Appl. No.: 151,650 [57] ABSTRACT A door construction for a rotatable drum of a washer-extrac- [52] U.S. Cl ..68/l43, 210/360 tor type machine, where the door is hinged to the circum- [51] Int. Cl. ..D06I 39/14 f ren i l drum wall and is aligned when closed with the drum [58] Field of Search ..68/l39, 140, 142, 143, 144, Wall, a full Width locking blade is carried on the door and is adapted to be moved to underlie the drum wall to hold the door closed, and a camming handle is carried on the door for moving the locking blade.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. STANLEY r FUNK BY W 4 Fig. 2

Fig.

ATTY.

Patented July 25, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTY.

DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR WASHER-EXTRACTOR DRUM A washer-extractor type machine typically has a perforated article carrying drum that is slowly rotated through water or washing solution within a casing during the washing cycle and is then rapidly rotated during the extracting cycle to centrifugally throw excess water and solution radially of the drum to be drained from the casing. On drum constructions where the access door is hinged on the cylindrical drum wall, particularly in industrial capacity washers where the drum can be feet or more in diameter, the large centrifugal loads generated by the rotating drum require positive locking means between the door and drum wall to hold the door closed.

The main objects of this invention are to provide for use with a rotatable drum of a washer-extractor type machine a door construction which is economical to fabricate and install, further which is easy and safe to operate, and still further which when set is durable and reliable to mechanically hold the door closed.

These and other objects of this invention will be more fully understood and appreciated after reviewing the following specification, the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical industrial capacity washer-extractor machine, showing a preferred embodiment of the subject door and door lock mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from a different angle showing the door in the closed and locked position relative to the drum;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view, from an angle similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the hinge mounting of the door to the drum; and

FIG. 3b is a perspective view, from an angle similar generally to FIG. 3a, showing the lock structure in the unlocked or open position; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the door lock and drum, as seen generally from line 4-4 in FIG. 3b, except with the door shown closed and the lock set.

Referring now to FIG. I, a typical industrial capacity washer-extractor machine is shown having a casing 12 that defines an interior chamber for holding water and washing solution. An opening is provided in the casing and a door 16 is mounted to slide within tracks 18 on the casing to close the opening and provide a generally splash-proof seal. A drum 20 is mounted to rotate within the casing, the drum having a pair of end shafts 22 which are mounted in journals 24. The drum typically has a perforated cylindrical wall 26 and end walls 27, a cross partition 28 to define separate washing compartments therein, and an access opening 30 in the wall 26 to each compartment. A door 32 is mounted on hinges 34 relative to the drum wall and can be pivoted between a closed position (see the upper door in FIG. 1 and the door in FIG. 2) and an open position (see the lower door in FIG. I).

It will be appreciated that means (not shown) are provided for rotating the drum at a relatively slow rate during the washing cycles, where each compartment is carried beneath and through the water in the casing, and for rotating the drum at a more rapid rate during the extracting cycle to centrifugally throw excess water radially of the perforated drum wall to be drained through an outlet (not shown) from the casing.

A typical drum has reinforcing bands 35 and 36 around the cylindrical wall 26, here shown generally at two opposed edges of the access opening 30, and moreover has ledges 37 formed in the wall 26 inwardly directed therefrom that extend between the bands at the two remaining edges of the access opening. The door disclosed preferably has a full size perforated plate 38 and strengthening elements connected thereto or formed as a part thereof including hinge bar 40, spaced edge channels 42, center guide 44, and end bar 46. The hinge 34 is connected between the one band 35 and the hinge bar 40, and the door when closed is against the side ledges 37 and generally in line with the drum wall with the end bar 46 inwardly spaced from the other band 36.

A locking blade 52 is mounted to reciprocate within angle guides 54 secured on the edge channels 42, the blade 52 extending almost the full length of the door edge 46. Post 56 extends through and slides within a bore of block element 58 secured to the channel 44, and this post is connected to the locking blade 52. An actuating lever or handle 62 is pivoted at pin 64 to the end of the post 56 and has a cam face 66 which is adapted to engage a face 68 on the door block 58. Thus counterclockwise handle rotation to a position shown in FIG. 3b cams the locking blade 52 to its unlocking position where its free edge is generally flush or at most only slightly projected beyond the door edge 46. The handle 62 also has a projected end 69 located adjacent a door stop 70 secured to enter channel 44, so that clockwise handle rotation from that shown in solid to that shown in phantom in FIG. 3b initially separates the handle face 66 from the door face 68 and then cams with handle edge 69 engaging door stop 70 the locking blade 52 to its locking position where it projects: well beyond the door edge 46 adapted to underlie drum band 36. A segment insert 71 is secured under the band 36 to give maximum full face support for the blade 52.

With the locking blade in the locking position (as shown in FIGS. 4 and in phantom in FIG. 3b) the lever 62 is confined behind a bracket 72 secured to the edge channel 42 and cannot be moved radially from the drum center even under centrifugal loads. The bracket has a slot-like configuration open in a direction facing the handle when the locking blade is unlocked to readily receive the handle during its rotation that shifts the locking element. A shoulder 74 on the bracket 72 precludes unlocking rotation of the handle from its locked position unless the handle is shifted toward the drum center to clear the shoulder, and leaf spring 76 secured to the edge channel 42 normally biases the handle against the bracket 72 to be constrained between the shoulder 74 and the closed end of the bracket. Since the handle is mechanically constrained in its locked position by both the spring 76 and the centrifugal load of the arm, there is little possibility of it releasing past the shoulder, so that the locking blade is likewise reliably held in its locking position.

A latch 78 is pivoted on door pin 80 and has an edge 82 that is adapted to abut the inward edge of the locking blade 52 when the latter is in the locking position. This direct interference also precludes unlocking movement of the locking blade from its projected locking position. A helical torsion spring 84 is mounted on the pivot pin 80 and has arms connected to the door and to the latch operable to bias the latch 78 against the locking blade to fall into its interfering position automatically when the locking blade is shifted to its locking position. The latch is released by pulling forwardly on the release element 86 to rearwardly withdraw the edge 82 from engagement with the locking blade 52, and then by concurrently shifting the handle 62 past bracket shoulder 74 and rotating it counterclockwise to general alignment with the center channel 44 the locking blade 52 is shifted free of inter ference from the drum to permit the door to be opened.

The lock is easy to operate since large shifting force multiplication is achieved with the camming handle, and moreover only a relatively light weight blade element need be shifted. Moreover, since positive locking engagement between the door and the drum band is almost along the full length of the door edge so that large centrifugal load can be withstood without the door opening. Accidental opening is precluded by the actuating handle being confined centrifugally and with the spring 76 and by the separate spring biased latch acting directly on the locking blade.

What is claimed is:

I. For use with a rotatable drum having a circumferential toward and away from the pivot means between an unlocked position where it at most only marginally projects beyond the second door edge and a locking position where it projects well beyond the second door edge, means on the drum wall at the opposite edge of the opening for receiving and holding the lock element when the door is in the closed position and the lock element is in the locking position holding the door in the closed position, and means carried on the door for moving the lock element, said means including a handle pivotally connected relative to the lock element and having a first abutment face that bears against a first abutment face of the door upon handle rotation in one direction operable to shift the lock element to one of its positions and having a second abutment face that bears against a second abutment face of the door upon handle rotation in the opposite direction operable to shift the lock element to its opposite position,

2. A combination according to claim 1, further including means carried on the door to receive and hold the handle when it is in position corresponding to the lock element locking position.

3. A combination according to claim 1, further including a latch carried on the door and adapted in an interfering position to abut against the lock element when the lock element is in its locking position to preclude movement from this position.

4. A combination according to claim 3, further including a spring to releasably hold the latch in its interfering position.

5. A combination according to claim 4, further including means carried on the door to receive and hold the handle relative to the door when the handle is in one position corresponding to the lock element locking position.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the receiving and holding means includes a shoulder and a spring that holds the handle against the shoulder operable to releasably retain the handle in said one position.

7. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the lock element is in the form of an elongated flat plate that extends the full length of the second door edge.

8. A combination according to claim 7, further including bracket means carried on the door to receive and hold the handle when it is in position corresponding to the lock element locking position.

9. A combination according to claim 8, further including a latch retainer carried on the door and adapted in an interfering position to abut against the lock element when the lock element is in its locking position to preclude movement from this position.

10. A combination according to claim 9, further including a spring to releasably hold the latch retainer in its interfering position, and a spring to bias the lever against the bracket means operable to releasably retain the lever relative to the bracket means.

11. For use with a rotatable drum having a circumferential wall with an access opening and a door of comparable size to close the opening, the combination comprising means to pivotally connect one edge of the door to the drum wall at one edge of said opening, a lock element carried on the door adjacent a second door edge opposite the one edge and means to guide the lock element for movement relative to the door toward and away from the pivot means between an unlocked position where it at most only marginally projects beyond the second door edge and a locking position where it projects well beyond the second door edge, said lock element being in the form of an elongated flat plate that extends the full length of the second door edge, means on the drum wall at the opposite edge of the opening for receiving and holding the lock element when the door is in the closed position and the lock element is in the locking position holding the door in the closed position, and means carried on the door for moving the lock element.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the lock element is confined between the door and the lock element receiving and holding means on the drum wall to distribute uniformly any reaction forces l etw een the door and drum. 

1. For use with a rotatable drum having a circumferential wall with an access opening and a door of comparable size to close the opening, the combination comprising means to pivotally connect one edge of the door to the drum wall at one edge of said opening, a lock element carried on the door adjacent a second door edge opposite the one edge and means to guide the lock element for movement relative to the door toward and away from the pivot means between an unlocked position where it at most only marginally projects beyond the second door edge and a locking position where it projects well beyond the second door edge, means on the drum wall at the opposite edge of the opening for receiving and holding the lock element when the door is in the closed position and the lock element is in the locking position holding the door in the closed position, and means carried on the door for moving the lock element, said means including a handle pivotally connected relative to the lock element and having a first abutment face that bears against a first abutment face of the door upon handle rotation in one direction operable to shift the lock element to one of its positions and having a second abutment face that bears against a second abutment face of the door upon handle rotation in the opposite direction operable to shift the lock element to its opposite position.
 2. A combination according to claim 1, further including means carried on the door to receive and hold the handle when it is in position corresponding to the lock element locking position.
 3. A combination according to claim 1, further including a latch carried on the door and adapted in an interfering position to abut against the lock element when the lock element is in its locking position to preclude movement from this position.
 4. A combination according to claim 3, further including a spring to releasably hold the latch in its interfering position.
 5. A combination according to claim 4, further including means carried on the door to receive and hold the handle relative to the door when the handle is in one position corresponding to the lock element locking position.
 6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the receiving and holding means includes a shoulder and a spring that holds the handle against the shoulder operable to releasably retain the handle in said one position.
 7. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the lock element is in the form of an elongated flat plate that extends the full length of the second door edge.
 8. A combination according to claim 7, further including bracket means carried on the door to receive and hold the handle when it is in position corresponding to the lock element locking position.
 9. A combination according to claim 8, further including a latch retainer carried on the door and adapted in an interfering position to abut against the lock element when the lock element is in its locking position to preclude movement from this position.
 10. A combination according to claim 9, further including a spring to releasably hold the latch retainer in its interfering position, and a spring to bias the lever against the bracket means operable to releasably retain the lever relative to the bracket means.
 11. For use with a rotatable drum having a circumferential wall with an access opening and a door of comparable size to close the opening, the combination comprising means to pivotally connect one edge of the door to the drum wall at one edge of said opening, a lock element carried on the door adjacent a second door edge opposite the one edge and means to guide the lock element for movement relative to the door toward and away from the pivot means between an unlocked position where it at most only marginally projects beyond the second door edge and a locking position where it projects well beyond the second door edge, said lock element being in the form of an elongated flat plate that extends the full length of the second door edge, means on the drum wall at the opposite edge of the opening for receiving and holding the lock element when the door is in the closed position and the lock element is in the locking position holding the door in the closed position, and means carried on the door for moving the lock element.
 12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the lock element is confined between the door and the lock element receiving and holding means on the drum wall to distribute uniformly any reaction forces between the door and drum. 